COVID-19 pandemic in Eritrea

The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached Eritrea on 21 March 2020.

COVID-19 pandemic in Eritrea
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationEritrea
First outbreakWuhan, Hubei, China
Index caseAsmara
Arrival date21 March 2020
Confirmed cases167 (as of 27 June)[1]
Active cases114 (as of 27 June)
Recovered53 (as of 27 June)
Deaths
0

Background

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[2][3]

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[4][5] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[6][4]

Timeline

March

On 21 March, the first case in Eritrea was confirmed in Asmara; the index case was an Eritrean national arriving from Norway.[7][8][9]

April

Eritrea announced a 21-day lockdown beginning April 2.[9] That lockdown was subsequently extended further.[9]

On 9 April, Eritrea recorded two new cases, two Eritreans aged 30 and 62, both of whom had returned to the country before the flight ban, thus bringing the country's total infections to 33.[10]

May

On 15 May, the Eritrean Health Ministry confirmed that the 39th and final case of COVID-19 in the country had fully recovered.[11]

June

On 13 June, a further 31 positive cases were confirmed, 30 of whom had returned from Sudan, and one from Ethiopia.[12]

Preventative measures

As a precautionary measure, the government has urged people not to travel to or from the country, and as of 11 March 2020, was quarantining any incoming travellers who have recently been in China, Italy, South Korea, or Iran.[13][9]

The government put in guidelines forbidding overcharging on goods during the lockdown.[9] Enforcement of these measured have been reported in jurisdictions like Massawa.[9]

As the pandemic became more serious, the government decreed a nationwide lockdown, banning on all non-essential local and international flights.[14] During the international travel ban, returning Eritreans are subject to mandatory quarantine; as of June 16, 2020 there were 3,405 people still in quarantine across 47 quarantine centers in the country.[15]

Diaspora response

Diaspora communities have been sending large volumes of money to support relief efforts in the country.[9] For example, Eritrean Americans have sent at least US$4 million, according to the US embassy in Eritrea.[9]

See also

References
  1. "Eritrea Coronavirus - Worldometer". www.worldometers.info. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  2. Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  3. Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  4. "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  5. "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  6. "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  7. Obulutsa, George (21 March 2020). "Angola, Eritrea, Uganda confirm first cases as coronavirus spreads in Africa". National Post. Reuters. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  8. "Eritrea Confirms First Coronavirus Case, in Arrival From Norway". The New York Times. 21 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  9. Mafotsing, Line (14 May 2020). "Covid-19 and Eritrea's Response". Kujenga Amani. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  10. "إريتريا تسجل إصابتين جديدتين بفيروس كورونا". العين الإخبارية (in Arabic). 9 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  11. "Eritrea officially virus-free with 100% recoveries, zero deaths". Africanews. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  12. "Announcement from the Ministry of Health". www.shabait.com. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  13. "Coronavirus-free Eritrea bans all internal, external travel". AfricanNews. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  14. Eritrea records highest daily increase as 24 new COVID-19 cases confirmed CGTN Africa, June 15, 2020
  15. Eritrea's confirmed COVID-19 cases pass 100-mark Xinhua, 2020-06-17
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